The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-16

they proceeded to the lonely cabin referred
to.
There was no one in the dimly lighted
apartment into which Crombie ushered
him.
The latter pointed to chair near table
in the center of tie room.
"Sit down, he said, IL will go and find
my man."
Ellis did SO, and Crombie left the room.
Several minutes passed by. Ellis was
becoming impatient, when a startling cpl
sode occurred.
The floor under him suddenly gave way.
A trap-door opened at his feet.
Chair and man descended with the ra-
pidity of lightning. He dashed through
space. Then, with dull thud, he struck
the rocky floor twenty feet below.
lnsensibility ensued. He laid there for
minutes or hours, be knew not which.
Then consciousness slowly returned.
He shuddered as he recalled his recent
experience, for he now knew that he was a
prisoner in the hands of Crombie.
He lay perfectly still, as sudden glare
of light illumined the place.
1t proceeded from the trap door, at
which a lantern and two men were visible.
One of them was Crombie.
J well, his companion spoke, "you have
got another prisoner. eh?"
"A dead one, / guess, for the fall has
probably killed him."
who is hep"
"A friend of our first prisoner"
"And an enemy of Arden?"
| Exactly"
"What are you going to do with them?"
Flood the place tonight, and let them
de-"
But your first prisoner may yet reveal
the secret of his wealth.
mo, he won't, and Arden ordered the
affair settled"
Very we'll, I'll flood the place at mid
| night from the mine"
The trap door was closed, the two men
disappeared. A hollow groan of despair
echoed through the dark, underground
vault.
Ellis started. Could this be the mys-
terious prisoner Crombie had referred to?
He crept toward the spot whence the
sound emanated, and then pausing drew
match from his pocket and ignited it.
Its flare showed a pale, wretched face
before him.
"Great heavens" calculated Ellis, "Ar-
mold Bordell?"
Yes. yes, who speaks? That voice! 1t
is friendl"
1T is an old friend, Arnold. Don't you
know me-Robert Ellis?"
1t was strange meeting. Ellis had sue
ceeded in his mission; he had found the
missing Bordell.
In agitated tones he told Arnold all of
the story of the events succeeding his de-
parture from Elmville, and of his search
for him.
And in return the bankers son reveal ed
the true mystery of his leaving his home.
1t was a strange, tragic recital. and show
ed Arden to be a scoundrel, and Arnold the
victim of deep, villainous plot"
The night of his disappearance he had
been induced by Arden to take a walk a
short distance Into the country.
Suddenly he was seized from behind and
blindfolded and gagged. Then he seemed
to be placed in wagon, and long journey
was begun.
For several nights and days the wagon
was driven forward, and Arnold was gwen
few crusts of bread to eat.
The wagon was covered one, and he
was kept in it, bound hand and foot.
One of his captors was the man Crom-
bic, and he had several companions.
From what he overheard Crombie say,
he realized that Arden had formed a terrible
plot against him.
The latter had changed his books at the
bank, embezzled large amount of money,
and had forged letter purportiag to be
written by Arnold, and confessing the crime.
Arden expected to win Mr.. Bordelrs con-
fidence, marry his daughter. and secure his
fortune.
Crombie had orders to carry Arnold be-
yond the hills and kill him in some lonely
mountain ravine, where his body would
never be discovered.
On the night of the tenth day Of the
journey Arnold Bordell escaped.
He had managed to sever his bonds, and
sprang from the wagon and ran down
narrow mountain path.
His captors pursued him. He stumbled
and fell. They saw him disappear over the
edge of cliff, and believed he had been
killed.
And now comes the strangest part of Ar
nold's story.
For days he wandered around, for he had
not been seriously injured by his fall, hav-
ing landed on moss covered ledge of
rocks, and remained there until his captors
passed by.
He was ignorant of his situation. and
wandered here and there in hope of reach
ing some human habitation, and subsisting
on wild fruits and fish.
He followed the course of a little stream.
One day, where it passed through Sc
cluded ravine, he made most remarkable
discovery.
The sands of the stream were filed with
golden grains and nuggets.
He had made one of the richest finds of
pure gold dust in the West.
He secured n large bag full, and, after
marking the place, and being unable TO
carry more away, started to find his way
back to Elmville to unmask Arden, and
secure aid TO return for the gold.
One week later. at nil htfall, he saw a
campfire, and made his way toward it.
The next moment, when too late to
escape, he RECOGNIZED the men around it as
Crombie and his band.
That night he was removed to the rocky
cellar of the cabin they were now in.
Here he had languished, prisoner, ever
since.
Each day. little food was thown TO him.
Each day, his captors endeavored TO wrest
from him the secret of the gold mine,
whence he had obtained the treasure they
had found upon him.
This was his story. When he had con-
cluded Ellis remained thoughtful for some
time.
I'VE must escape" he said, finally.
at is impossible" replied Arnold, hope
less!y.
no; bark do you hear that?"
The sounds of the heavy blows of a pick
/ Il Al